12. Monster

"Uh... that's alright," William said uncertainly, responding to the thing's courteous attitude.
'Demon' is a word that he might have put to the thing in front of him, except that there was a distinct lack of flames or smoke, or the smell of sulphur. 
"Hi," it said brightly, "my name is Nathaniel, What's yours?"
"Uh, m-my n-name is William," he finally got out through his fearful stammering.
"Well you shouldn't fall asleep in the mushrooms, William," Nathaniel scolded him, "you might never wake up again! I thought everybody knew that."
Tired of being scared of this thing already, William asked simply, "Are you going to eat me?"
"Eat you?" It laughed from it's bulbous belly, "why would I want to eat you?"
"I don't know. Isn't that what monsters do?"
"You think I'm a monster? Gee, thanks! Wait 'til my friends hear that!"
"You want to be a monster?"
"Well sure. I always get picked on 'cause I'm too small or too weak, or not good enough in sports." His eyes looked so sad that William wanted to reassure him. "But being a monster? That's what it's all about!"
"Well I'll tell anybody who asks that you're a real monster."
"Thanks, William! You're the best!"